Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, warned Ontario Minister of Natural Resources (MNR), Donna Cansfield, today that she has just 50 days remaining to provide funding to help municipalities curb gypsy moth infestation in 2008 and save tens of thousands of trees across Niagara and Hamilton.

Tim Hudak tours the Arbuckle's Binbrook property this past summer to personally survey the gypsy moth infestation.Today marks 50 days until the first day of spring. Spraying for gypsy moths must be done in early spring before the moth larva hatch (typically in mid-April) and proceed to devour thousands of acres of foliage across southern Ontario. In a letter to the minister sent today, Hudak reminded Cansfield of the immediate need for funding to curb this year’s infestation.

“As the new Minister of Natural Resources, you have the opportunity to make a difference for property owners and nature lovers in Hamilton, Niagara and the surrounding areas,” Hudak said. “It’s not too late to avoid unnecessary damage to personal property, parks and the environment, but the deadline to take action is fast approaching.”

Gypsy moths, while in the larva stage are particularly dangerous pests, as they have been known to attack more than 300 different plant species. One adult female gypsy moth can lay up to 1,000 eggs per egg mass. During the larva stage, a single gypsy moth caterpillar can consume as much as 1,000 square centimetres of tree foliage.

During the short session in the Legislature this past December, Hudak tabled a notice of motion that calls upon the Ministry of Natural Resources to create and fund a cost shared gypsy moth spraying program with interested municipalities and property owners. Hudak also used the December session to enter some of the petitions he circulated with the help of constituents this past summer that also calls on the MNR to provide funding for a spraying program. Over the past 18 months, Hudak has written and spoken to the current and former MNR ministers on several occasions about gypsy moth infestation.

“Landowners in these affected areas are doing their best to fight the infestation and municipalities, like Hamilton and West Lincoln, are trying to address the issue,” Hudak said, “but they really need the Province to come to table to make it work.

MPP Hudak’s letter to Minister Canfield is copied below.

January 30, 2008

Hon. Donna Cansfield
Ministry of Natural Resources
6630-99 Wellesley St. W,
6th Floor, Whitney Block
Toronto, ON M7A 1W3

Dear Minister Cansfield,

With the first day of spring just 50 days away, I am writing to stress the urgent need for the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to help fund a spraying program to prevent the further spread of gypsy moths in southern Ontario this year.

As the new Minister of Natural Resources, you have the opportunity to make a difference for property owners and nature lovers in Hamilton, Niagara and the surrounding areas. It’s not too late to avoid unnecessary damage to personal property, parks and the environment, but the deadline to take action is fast approaching. Spraying must be done in early spring before the gypsy moth larva hatch (typically in mid-April) and proceed to devour thousands of acres of foliage, from which many trees will not recover.

Minister, as I did with your predecessor at the MNR, I am calling on you to immediately fund a shared cost gypsy moth spraying program with municipalities that have demonstrated a need or interest such as Hamilton and West Lincoln.

It is logistically impossible for smaller municipalities like West Lincoln to fight this infestation on their own. Landowners in these affected areas are doing their best to fight the infestation and municipalities, like Hamilton and West Lincoln, are trying to address the issue, but they really need the Province to come to table to make it work.

The gypsy moth infestations are currently confined to fairly well-defined areas which, if treated immediately, can be contained and eventually wiped out. The longer the ministry waits to get involved, the more expensive it is going to be when this annual infestation spreads across the province, including the provincially protected greenbelt.

In closing, please accept my best wishes.

Sincerely,

Tim Hudak, MPP
Niagara West-Glanbrook